Court orders diabetic warden to be reinstated

Justice Datuk Zakaria Sam said the warden Azhar Othman, 49, then posted at
the Kamunting detention centre, was also entitled to receive salaries due to
him since his dismissal on April 8, 1998.
<p>He said an inquiry must be held to determine the quantum of salaries and emoluments
due to Azhar, a grade KX11 warden.</p>
<p>In his statement of claim filed on Dec 22, 2001, Azhar had said he was wrongfully
dismissed because he was seriously ill.</p>
<p>Azhar, represented by lawyer Christopher Fernando, had sought unpaid salaries,
housing and other allowances, annual leave, bonuses and other payments due to
him since his dismissal.</p>
<p>A warden since July 17, 1977, Azhar had named the Prisons Department’s disciplinary
board as first defendant, the chairman of the department’s disciplinary appeal
board as second defendant and the Malaysian Government as the third defendant.</p>
<p>Earlier, Justice Zakaria ticked off the defendants’ counsel for failing to
make a written submission despite being ordered to do so.</p>
<p>Senior federal counsel Suzanah Atan said a written submission had been couriered
to the court on June 27 but the judge said he had not received it.</p>
<p>&quot;We have been talking about delays, and enough is enough,&quot; said Justice
Zakaria.</p>
<p>&quot;When this kind of situation arises, how can we solve the backlog of cases,&quot;
he said.</p>
<p>Speaking to reporters outside the court, Azhar, a father of three children
said he was happy that his suffering was over.</p>
<p>&quot;I have diabetes, high blood pressure and a heart pro-blem.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>&quot;After I was sacked, I had to depend on my wife to pay my medical bills
and for other needs,&quot; said Azhar who was accompanied by his staff nurse
wife Noraini Mokhtar.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When he turned 40, Azhar applied for early retirement but his application was
rejected and he was subsequently dismissed.